Poverty is a massive social problem in society. And because human populations in our cities and urban zones have been rapidly increasing at an alarming rate, homelessness (a type of poverty) is also becoming common. How can architecture help? There are many ways. But from a practical perspective, it's vital to construct affordable housing units that cater to the poor. These could be done through government-sponsored programs or private charitable entities that fund Architects and the building team to realize these projects. Architectural and design developments for these valuable pursuits would be done with a "bare-bones" approach. In other words, back to basics and only what's necessary.
Indeed! The government has an important role in poverty reduction and urban housing. As pointed out, architects and designers can plan out means, but without proactive policies and funding, it won't prosper. Enjoy a slice of !PIZZA